UPDATED: Teen shot dead at Lancaster house party

The incident happened in the 700 Block of East Avenue K in Lancaster. (Photos by Tony Cheval.)

LANCASTER – A teenager was shot and killed at a house party in Lancaster early Saturday morning, authorities said.

The incident happened around 1 a.m. at a residence in the 700 Block of East Avenue K, according to the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

Officers from three agencies responded to the scene.

The shooting happened after a confrontation erupted in the backyard of the home, witnesses said. Investigators were called to the scene regarding a juvenile being shot in the head, according to a Lancaster Station broadcast.

When officers from the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station, the California Highway Patrol and the Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station descended on the scene, several partygoers could be seen running in every direction. Many of them appeared to be minors.

Deputies were able to detain close to 50 of the partygoers at the scene. They sat them on a curb and questioned them one by one. Many of them were released to the custody of waiting parents.

Nearly 50 partygoers were detained and questioned at the scene.

About a dozen were taken to the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station early Saturday morning for further questioning.

Later on, investigators said they still did not have any suspect information and were trying to get in contact with more witnesses.

The victim’s name is not being released pending notification of next of kin, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office. ABC 7 reports he is high school junior, and the house party he attended was posted to facebook and several social media outlets.

Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323-890-5500. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

UPDATED @ 4:30 pm 3/30/13:

Kevin Tatum

The victim has been identified as 17-year-old Kevin Tatum of Compton, and the shooting is believed to be gang related, according to the latest report from the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

Guests were leaving the house party when a fight broke out and an unknown suspect produced and fired a hand gun, according to detectives. Tatum was hit by gunfire and pronounced dead at the scene.

Homicide detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.